Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Is Both a Risk Factor for and Comorbidity of Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) is an uncommon but important disease of the exocrine pancreas. Its relationship to endocrine pancreas function and diabetes (DM) remains poorly characterized. To better understand this relationship, a retrospective chart review was performed in a large statewide multispecialty practice. Methods: A retrospective review of the entire 1.3 million patient-practice of Ochsner Health system in Louisiana was performed to cover the period of January 2017 to January 2020. All cases of documented EPI and patients on pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) were identified and underwent individual chart review to identify etiologic factors and cardiometabolic, demographic, vital sign data, and clinical course information. Results: 677 EPI patients were identified with DM being the most prevalent etiologic risk factor (44.6% T2DM, 9.6% T1DM and 11.5% secondary DM). EPI patients without DM had a 10.9% prevalence of pre-DM, and 127 new DM cases developed over the observation period among EPI patients initially without DM with an 18.7% incidence rate. EPI patients, compared to the general DM population, were significantly younger with more diverse DM etiology. They also had greater LFT and serum lipase elevations. EPI patients had lower BMIs; 25.6 ± 7.5 vs 32.8 ± 46.9 kg/m2 with greater alcohol use. EPI patients also had better glycemic control (HBAC 6.83 ± 2.1 vs 7.2 ± 1.9) and triglycerides (125.7 ± 104.7 vs 140.6 ± 118.9) though other lipids were similar. Discussion and Conclusions: EPI, though uncommon, is both an important risk factor for onset of DM and comorbidity of diabetes. DM patients with EPI have distinctive etiologic, metabolic, and anthropometric features from DM patients in the general population. Further study of EPI patients to better understand predictors of onset of EPI in DM patients and DM onset in non-DM EPI patients are needed to guide evidence based screening. This would in turn enable early EPI recognition and management. Disclosure K.G.Romo: None. S.Shu: None. A.A.Noor: None. W.A.West: None. S.Bhamre: None. G.I.Uwaifo: None.